Folks, the CANWARN training is now well underway with 9 presentationshaving already taken place across southwestern Ontario. Attendance hasbeen excellent with a number of volunteers participating in the trainingfor the first time.In terms of new information, just a correction to the training site thatwas identified previously as being in Thornhill, it is actually the Cityof Markham that is sponsoring the session on May 20 at the ThornhillCommunity Centre. In addition, we have now confirmed all of the venuesfor the training in northwestern Ontario. The training in the Emo-FortFrances area will again be held at the Emo-Lavallee Community Centre andthe training in Dryden will again take place in the Dryden Fire ServicesTraining Room. Also, the session in the Niagara Peninsula this year hasbeen confirmed. It will take place on Tuesday, May 19 at 7 PM at LincolnFire Station No. 4 in Jordan Station.Just a reminder that RSVPs for the Oakville session on June 2nd can besent and RSVPs for the Kenora session canbe sent. RSVPs for all other sessions can be sent.

An announcement is expected today ( Sunday ) of the official end of theinternational Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) phase with the expectationthat USAR teams will start leaving the area shortly. It is however stillthe case that in rural areas it is taking 5-6 days to reach those areasto try and provide assistance.

Two Amateur Radio stations have started operating from some of thoserural places. 9N3AA Jose operating from Damauli, District Gorakha and9N1SD Akarshan installed at Sindhupalchowk. Both the areas are highlydevastated and affected.

VU2JAU reported that all amateurs in India are coordinating well, healso makes special mention of A41LD Walid bhai who has supported themright from the first day.

Nepal previously depended heavily on mobile phones for communications (64% according to Wikipedia ) and while restoring supplies to cellphonesites can be prioritised, power supplies for the citizens remaindifficult. A requirement for 500 crank chargers was identifiedimmediately which was passed on to all Indian Radio Amateurs who hope tobe able to ship some crank chargers soon.

Many countries radio amateurs remain active in the area as thecommunications needs have not gone away. Teams certainly remain fromIndia and China with some emergency traffic also heard in what wasbelieved to be Russian on 14.300 on Friday.

Operations are taking place on a number of frequencies in the 40, 20 and15m bands with 9N1SP specifically maintaining an international link onsked with the American MARS organisation.

All amateurs are reminded that emergency traffic may be heard on anyfrequency in the Amateur bands as it is not always possible for theNepal stations to operate on the IARU Emergency Centre of Activityfrequencies. If you hear the words 'Emergency' please give the stationsroom to work.---------------------------------------------